MAJOR EVENTS LATEST…
KING'S LYNN boss Dale Allitt has described the Stars’ SGB Premiership Pairs success as a massive achievement for the club.
Chris Holder and Robert Lambert dominated the opening Major Event of the season to claim the first available silverware of 2017, becoming the first top-flight Pairs winners since the event was last staged six years ago.
Holder had teamed up with Darcy Ward to win the competition for Poole in 2011, and his success with Lambert at Somerset was his first appearance for his new club.
Said Allitt: “Both Chris and Rob were absolutely outstanding and they fully deserved to win the Pairs Championship.
“From start to finish they were brilliant and what a way to get our year up and running!
“It's been a long, long time since King's Lynn won some major silverware and hopefully this is just the start of a very special year!”
Holder and Lambert raced through the card in the Group stages with maximum victories over Leicester, Rye House and Poole – the latter seeing Lambert produce the ride of the night to go past Pirates duo Brady Kurtz and Jack Holder.
They then combined to squeeze out Nick Morris as they got the better of Swindon in the semi-final, before charging clear of Wolverhampton duo Fredrik Lindgren and Jacob Thorssell in the Final.
Said Holder: “It's a great way for me to get my season going as well as my spot with King's Lynn, I guess.
“It was a tough meeting but Rob was on a mission and we worked good as a team.”
Meanwhile Lambert said: “I've been with the Stars for a few years now and we've never won anything, so this means a lot to me especially.
“How we've started is definitely how we intend to go so hopefully this is going to be a big year for us.”
Somerset were delighted with their staging of the event, which attracted a strong attendance to the Oaktree Arena – which will also host the SGB Championship Pairs on July 21.
Rebels boss Garry May said: “First and foremost, it was an excellent night of speedway played out in front of a good-sized crowd.
“King’s Lynn were a class act all night, and many congratulations on Chris Holder and Robert Lambert for their much deserved win.”
BRITISH SPEEDWAY MAJOR EVENTS 2017
SGBP PAIRS: KING’S LYNN
BRITISH FINAL: Belle Vue, June 19
SGBC PAIRS: Somerset, July 21
SGBC FOURS: Peterborough, August 6
SGBP RIDERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP: Belle Vue, September 16
SGBC RIDERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP: Glasgow, September 24
OTHER NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP DATES
BRITISH UNDER-21 SEMI-FINAL: Peterborough, April 11
BRITISH UNDER-21 FINAL: Poole, April 26
BRITISH UNDER-19 FINAL: Plymouth, July 6
BRITISH SEMI-FINALS: Sheffield, May 4; Newcastle, Date TBC
THE BITE-SIZED BULLETIN
SGB PREMIERSHIP LATEST…
BELLE VUE – “We’ve put the past few months behind us now. We’re all keen to brush off the cobwebs, get on track and do what we do best.” New captain Craig Cook wants to forget the Aces’ winter troubles.
NEXT HOME: Poole, KO Cup 2nd leg, Friday April 7 (7.30)
NEXT AWAY: Poole, KO Cup 1st leg, Weds April 5 (7.30)
KING’S LYNN – "It was the perfect debut for me as official team manager – maybe I'm a good luck charm after all!” Boss Dale Allitt was after some credit after Chris Holder and Robert Lambert stormed to the Premiership Pairs crown.
NEXT HOME: Somerset, Premiership, Weds April 5 (7.30)
NEXT AWAY: Rye House, Premiership, Sat April 15 (7pm)
LEICESTER - “All I can say is what a team. Still having clutch issues but I will get to the bottom of it. Big things to come from @SpeedwayLions.” British champion Danny King tweeted to laud Leicester’s efforts in a hard-fought 45-44 defeat at champions Wolverhampton on Monday.
NEXT HOME: Poole, Premiership, Sat April 8 (7.30)
NEXT AWAY: Somerset, KO Cup 1st leg, Fri April 7 (7.30)
POOLE - “Nice to have a good meeting at Belle Vue. Love riding that place! Good to have some speed and ready to go back on Friday.” Brady Kurtz enjoyed a fruitful evening in the Peter Craven Trophy ahead of Pirates heading to Manchester this week.
NEXT HOME: Belle Vue, KO Cup 1st leg, Weds April 5 (7.30)
NEXT AWAY: Belle Vue, KO Cup 2nd leg, Fri April 7 (7.30)
RYE HOUSE – “The management has put a lot of money into this project and hopefully, the supporters will see that, come back every week and we can put on some good racing for them.” Chris Harris urged fans to keep the turnstiles clicking after an impressive show against Wolves.
NEXT HOME: Swindon, KO Cup 1st leg, Sat April 8 (7pm)
NEXT AWAY: Swindon, KO Cup 2nd leg, Thurs April 13 (7.30)
SOMERSET - “No excuses, I should have been a bit better.” Rohan Tungate was his own worst critic despite a strong showing in the Premiership Pairs.
NEXT HOME: Leicester, KO Cup 1st leg, Fri April 7 (7.30)
NEXT AWAY: King’s Lynn, Premiership, Weds April 5 (7.30)
SWINDON - "A few mistakes here and there and falling away a little bit in the middle part of the meeting cost us.” Alun Rossiter was left to rue errors following an opening-night loss at Leicester.
NEXT HOME: Belle Vue, Premiership, Thurs April 6 (7.30)
NEXT AWAY: Rye House, KO Cup 1st leg, Sat April 8 (7pm)
WOLVERHAMPTON - “The reserves are a concern.” Boss Peter Adams didn’t duck the problem after his bottom two contributed just three points in Monday’s 45-44 win over Leicester.
NEXT HOME: Coventry, challenge, Mon April 10 (7.30)
NEXT AWAY: Belle Vue, Premiership, Fri April 14 (1pm)
SGB CHAMPIONSHIP LATEST…
BERWICK – "We go to Sheffield on Thursday. I think we should perform well as it is a track we're more suited to.” Gary Havelock is confident the Bandits can pull off a raid at Owlerton.
NEXT HOME: Edinburgh, Championship, Sat April 8 (7pm)
NEXT AWAY: Sheffield, Championship, Thurs April 6 (7.30)
EDINBURGH - “Hard work but had heaps of fun! Well done @JustinSedgmen, deserved the win.” Number one Sam Masters enjoyed the Scottish Open at his home track.
NEXT HOME: Scunthorpe, Championship, Fri April 7 (7.30)
NEXT AWAY: Berwick, Championship, Sat April 8 (7pm)
GLASGOW - “He’s a sensible lad and knows how it works. It was nice to see that he went out after the meeting and did a few laps.” Boss Stewart Dickson praised reserve Jack Smith for his reaction to being withdrawn from his last ride against Scunthorpe.
NEXT HOME: Newcastle, Championship, Sat April 8 (7pm)
NEXT AWAY: Scunthorpe, Championship, Sun April 9 (5.30)
IPSWICH - “Over the moon with those scan results! I'll be hitting the physio sessions fast and hard now.” Kyle Newman is set to hit the comeback trail after discovering his injured shoulder does not require surgery.
NEXT HOME: Peterborough, Championship, Sat April 15 (7.30)
NEXT AWAY: Sheffield, Championship, Thurs April 13 (7.30)
NEWCASTLE - “I have to congratulate Craig Cook for his moves in heat 13, it was nothing short of pure brilliance.” Manager George English praises Workington’s number one for keeping Comets and Diamonds close ahead of the Knockout Cup second leg.
NEXT HOME: Berwick, Championship, Sun April 9 (7pm)
NEXT AWAY: Glasgow, Championship, Sat April 8 (7pm)
PETERBOROUGH - “Performances like that are the reason why we built the team in the way we did. We felt the strength in depth could turn meetings our way.” Carl Johnson hails Bradley Wilson-Dean’s pivotal 12-point haul in the 46-44 win at Scunthorpe.
NEXT HOME: Redcar, KO Cup 1st leg, Sun April 9 (5pm, followed by round one of the British 500cc and 250 cc Youth Championships)
NEXT AWAY: Redcar, KO Cup 2nd leg, Thurs April 13 (7.30)
REDCAR - “Jason is an infectious character and has made a big impression on us already.” Manager Jitendra Duffill explains why top dog Jason Garrity was handed the Bears’ captaincy.
NEXT HOME: Ex-Bears, challenge, Thurs April 6 (7.30)
NEXT AWAY: Peterborough, KO Cup 1st leg, Sun April 9 (5pm)
SCUNTHORPE - “The track was a little bit different from last year but I don’t think we should use that as an excuse. It’s more a case of the riders needing to take a look at ourselves.” Michael Palm Toft pulls no punches after the Scorpions lost their opener at home.
NEXT HOME: Glasgow, Championship, Sun April 9 (5.30)
NEXT AWAY: Edinburgh, Championship, Fri April 7 (7.30)
SHEFFIELD - “We drew in 3,000 people and I never expected that many, the response was superb.” Promoter Damien Bates was thrilled to see a bumper crowd having thrown open the Owlerton gates for the challenge against Somerset.
NEXT HOME: Berwick, Championship, Thurs April 6 (7.30)
NEXT AWAY: Workington, Championship, Sat April 8 (7pm)
WORKINGTON - “Good start for us @OfficialComets at Newcastle, great racing and everyone's in one piece. Happy days.” Talisman Craig Cook was content with an eight-point deficit going into the home leg of the Knockout Cup.
NEXT HOME: Sheffield, Championship, Sat April 8 (7pm)
NEXT AWAY: Glasgow, Championship, Sun April 23 (3pm)
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE LATEST…
BELLE VUE COLTS - “First meeting in the main body of the team, four points and one win for me and a win for @_glasgowtigers.” Dan Bewley is ready to roll after a solid start at the level above.
NEXT HOME: Mildenhall, National League, Fri April 28 (7.30)
NEXT AWAY: Stoke, National League, Sat April 22 (7pm)
BIRMINGHAM - “He is naturally devastated with what happened.” Brummies have launched a fundraising appeal to help get 15-year-old Kean Dicken back on track after an arson attack on his workshop.
NEXT HOME: Cradley, West Midlands Trophy, Weds April 5 (7.30)
NEXT AWAY: King’s Lynn, National League, Weds April 12 (7.30)
BUXTON - “It was a dream debut to be fair.” Hitmen star Ellis Perks enjoyed his top-flight bow for Rye House.
NEXT HOME: Stoke, KO Cup 1st leg, Sun April 30 (3pm)
NEXT AWAY: Kent, National League, Mon May 1 (3pm)
CRADLEY - "We wanted to send out a message to the rest of the league and I think we definitely did that!" Skipper Tom Perry shared the plaudits after a 15-point maximum in the 61-29 victory over King’s Lynn Young Stars.
NEXT HOME: Mildenhall, National League, Mon April 17 (7.30)
NEXT AWAY: Birmingham, West Midlands Trophy, Weds April 5 (7.30)
EASTBOURNE – "I could have made team changes but I did that last year and didn't want to again.” Connor Dugard explains why he recruited Mattie Bates in place of the injured Adam Extance.
NEXT HOME: Lakeside, Lee Richardson Memorial, Fri April 14 (7.30)
NEXT AWAY: Lakeside, Lee Richardson Memorial, Fri April 14 (1pm)
ISLE OF WIGHT - “Lost just over 6kg since being back from Australia! Pretty chuffed with that, set myself up perfectly for the start of the season.” Tyler Govier feels ready to hit the ground running.
NEXT HOME: Vince Mapley Memorial, Thurs April 13 (7pm)
NEXT AWAY: Plymouth, National Trophy, Fri April 14 (7.15)
KENT - “He was a must to come back, his average was very high but there was no way we were contemplating not having him in this year’s team.” Number one Luke Bowen has the full support of co-promoter Len Silver.
NEXT HOME: Mildenhall, Easter Chase, Fri April 14 (6.30)
NEXT AWAY: Mildenhall, Easter Chase, Sun April 16 (3pm)
KING’S LYNN - "We know we can all do better so we have to work hard now before our next meeting at home to Birmingham.” Captain Danny Phillips fronts up after the 61-29 setback at Cradley.
NEXT HOME: Birmingham, National League, Weds April 12 (7.30)
NEXT AWAY: Birmingham, National League, Fri April 14 (7.30)
LAKESIDE - “Kicking off with two meetings in one day will be good for me, it gives me the time on the bike that I missed out on last year.” Zach Wajtknecht cannot wait to get started with the Hammers after an injury-plagued end to 2016.
NEXT HOME: Eastbourne, Lee Richardson Memorial, Fri April 14 (1pm)
NEXT AWAY: Eastbourne, Lee Richardson Memorial, Fri April 14 (7.30)
MILDENHALL - “Hopefully, the supporters will come out in force as I feel I couldn’t have put together a better field than I have at National League level.” Co-promoter Kevin Jolly is looking forward to the new campaign.
NEXT HOME: Fen Fours, Sun April 9 (3pm)
NEXT AWAY: Kent, Easter Chase, Sun April 16 (3pm)
PLYMOUTH - “Mark (Phillips, co-promoter) and I have been discussing it for a while and Richard has shown he is committed to the club. We think he will do a great job.” Devils chief Laurence Rogers on why Richard Andrews has been appointed captain.
NEXT HOME: Isle of Wight, National Trophy, Fri April 14 (7.15)
NEXT AWAY: Birmingham, National League, Weds April 19 (7.30)
STOKE - "I was guilty of over trying and thought I was letting myself down. On reflection, I know that wasn't the case and I have to take positives from the meeting.” Number one Mitchell Davey on his Scottish Open performance.
NEXT HOME: Pride of the Potteries, Sun April 9 (3pm)
NEXT AWAY: Buxton, KO Cup 1st leg, Sun Apr 30 (3pm)
News Roundup
(SPEEDWAY 1)
WOLVERHAMPTON edged to a 45-44 win over Leicester in a tight SGB Premiership encounter at Monmore Green.
The home side trailed by six points at the halfway stage, and by three points with three heats to go as the Lions threatened a shock away win.
Fredrik Lindgren and Sam Masters banked a crucial 5-1 for Wolves in Heat 13 and they then shared the final two races to secure their narrow victory.
Lindgren scored 11+2 with Masters on 10+1 and Jacob Thorssell added 10 for Wolves, whilst Leicester No.1 Kim Nilsson won four races on his way to 12 points, and reserve Josh Bates added 8+1 as the visitors collected a league point.
Wolves boss Peter Adams said: “We didn’t underestimate Leicester, that’s for certain. They have a good, solid team and Kim Nilsson went very well but it was closer than we would have liked, for sure.
“Of course, we were disappointed with the performance of our reserves. Effectively, we were trying to win a match with five scoring riders and that will be a situation for us to monitor as the season unfolds.
“I don’t think any of the riders have hit top form yet but the top five are doing enough to keep us in matches. The reserves are a concern.”
Bates said: “It was a very close meeting. All of our boys did very well because we knew Wolverhampton would not be an easy place to come to.
“It went pretty well for me. I got the set-up wrong at first but I changed it and in the last couple, I had things working nicely.
“Still, Wolverhampton is a hard track. If you’re not riding here every week it takes some getting used to but I am happy with my performance and the result. We could have done with one or two more points but we gave it everything.”
(SPEEDWAY 2)
CRAIG Cook has been handed the captaincy at Belle Vue as they prepare to launch their competitive campaign at Poole on Wednesday.
Cook is heading into his seventh season in Aces colours and says he is encouraged by the club’s winter team-building, which sees a number of familiar riders re-united.
He said: “I’ve got a great feeling about this team. They’re a good bunch of lads and we’re already familiar with each other, certainly for myself, Justin [Sedgmen], Max [Fricke] and Steve [Worrall].
“We rode together at Edinburgh a few years ago and I’m confident we can ignite that same chemistry amongst the entire team here at Belle Vue. It’s going to be a great season.
“Gelling with your fellow riders is the key to any successful club. It’s a team effort and if we want to win the league title this year, it’ll take all of us to pull it off. I believe we’re capable of doing it.”
(SPEEDWAY 3)
EASTBOURNE have announced Matt Bates will rejoin the club following the pre-season departure of Adam Extance.
Bates appeared for the Eagles in 2015 and returns to Arlington on a 4.68 average – a figure which team boss Connor Dugard expects he can improve upon.
Dugard said: “I could have made team changes, but I did that last year and I didn't want to do it again. None of the team have done any wrong and we have a great vibe, and I want to keep it that way.
“Mattie is committed. He has experience and, as many Eagles fans may recall from his time with us in our first year of National League racing in 2015 he has the potential to win big heats.
“Remember in 2015 he beat Rob Branford and Bradley Wilson-Dean in Heat 1.”
(SPEEDWAY 4)
MILDENHALL promoter Kevin Jolly is confident 2017 can be a big season for the Fen Tigers at West Row.
The club are being well backed to challenge for honours in the Travel Plus National League, and they launch the campaign with the Fen Fours on Sunday featuring many of their former team members alongside this year’s line-up.
Jolly said: “I have the same feeling I did when along with Chris Louis and Michael Lee we brought Mildenhall Speedway back six seasons ago. It really is that positive and exciting.
“Over the winter I feel we have put together a well balanced side with plenty of improvement in it, we have done incredibly well with sponsorship, purchased a new air fence for bends one and two and held some enjoyable and highly successful evenings and fund-raisers. It is hard to think how things could have been any better.”
FIXTURE PICTURE…
WEDNESDAY APRIL 5:
SGB PREMIERSHIP: King’s Lynn v Somerset 7.30
PREMIERSHIP KO CUP 1st leg: Poole v Belle Vue 7.30
WEST MIDLANDS TROPHY: Birmingham v Cradley 7.30
THURSDAY APRIL 6:
SGB PREMIERSHIP: Swindon v Belle Vue 7.30
SGB CHAMPIONSHIP: Sheffield v Berwick 7.30
CHALLENGE: Redcar v Ex-Bears 7.30
FRIDAY APRIL 7:
PREMIERSHIP KO CUP 2nd leg: Belle Vue v Poole 7.30, 1st leg: Somerset v Leicester 7.30
SGB CHAMPIONSHIP: Edinburgh v Scunthorpe 7.30
SATURDAY APRIL 8:
SGB PREMIERSHIP: Leicester v Poole 7.30
PREMIERSHIP KO CUP 1st leg: Rye House v Swindon 7pm
SGB CHAMPIONSHIP: Berwick v Edinburgh 7pm, Glasgow v Newcastle 7pm, Workington v Sheffield 7pm
SUNDAY APRIL 9:
SGB CHAMPIONSHIP: Newcastle v Berwick 6.30, Scunthorpe v Glasgow 5.30
CHAMPIONSHIP KO CUP 1st leg: Peterborough v Redcar 5pm
FEN FOURS: Mildenhall 3pm
PRIDE OF THE POTTERIES: Stoke 3pm
BRITISH YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP Round 1 (500cc/250cc): Peterborough (follows KOC fixture)
MONDAY APRIL 10:
CHALLENGE: Wolverhampton v Coventry 7.30
TUESDAY APRIL 11:
BRITISH UNDER-21 SEMI-FINAL: Peterborough 7.30
WEDNESDAY APRIL 12:
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: King’s Lynn v Birmingham 7.30
THURSDAY APRIL 13:
PREMIERSHIP KO CUP 2nd leg: Swindon v Rye House 7.30
SGB CHAMPIONSHIP: Sheffield v Ipswich 7.30
CHAMPIONSHIP KO CUP 2nd leg: Redcar v Peterborough 7.30
VINCE MAPLEY MEMORIAL TROPHY: Isle of Wight 7pm
FRIDAY APRIL 14:
SGB PREMIERSHIP: Belle Vue v Wolverhampton 1pm, King’s Lynn v Rye House 7.30, Poole v Somerset 11am, Somerset v Poole 7.30
SGB CHAMPIONSHIP: Edinburgh v Berwick 7.30
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Birmingham v King’s Lynn 7.30
NATIONAL TROPHY: Plymouth v Isle of Wight 7.15
EASTER CHASE 1st leg: Kent v Mildenhall 6.30
LEE RICHARDSON MEMORIAL TROPHY: Lakeside v Eastbourne 1pm, Eastbourne v Lakeside 7.30
SATURDAY APRIL 15:
SGB PREMIERSHIP: Rye House v King’s Lynn 7pm
PREMIERSHIP KO CUP 2nd leg: Leicester v Somerset 7.30
SGB CHAMPIONSHIP: Berwick v Glasgow 7pm, Ipswich v Peterborough 7.30, Workington v Scunthorpe 7pm
SUNDAY APRIL 16:
SGB PREMIERSHIP: Swindon v Poole 5pm
SGB CHAMPIONSHIP: Glasgow v Berwick 3pm, Newcastle v Sheffield 6.30, Scunthorpe v Redcar 3pm
EASTER CHASE 2nd leg: Mildenhall v Kent 3pm
YOUTH CHALLENGE: Scunthorpe Stags v Halifax Dukes (follows SGBC fixture)
MONDAY APRIL 17:
SGB CHAMPIONSHIP: Peterborough v Ipswich 3pm
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Cradley v Mildenhall 7.30
TUNNEL TROPHY 1st leg: Kent v Lakeside 3pm
BRITISH YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP Round 1 (150cc/125cc): Peterborough (follows SGBC fixture)
TUESDAY APRIL 18:
SGB PREMIERSHIP: Wolverhampton v Belle Vue 7.30
WEDNESDAY APRIL 19:
SGB PREMIERSHIP: King’s Lynn v Belle Vue 7.30
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Birmingham v Plymouth 7.30
CHALLENGE: Poole v Coventry 7.30
Results Monday Monday April 3, 2017
SGB PREMIERSHIP
Wolverhampton 45 (Freddie Lindgren 11+2)
Leicester 44 (Kim Nilsson 12)
SGB Premiership points: Wolverhampton 3 Leicester 1
